EPL: QPR vs. Wolves

Coming into this weekend's match with fellow relegation threatened Wolves, spirits were generally high at Loftus Road. The club had made their ambition plain after hiring Mark Hughes as manager and making a big splash in the January transfer window, including the big signings of Bobby Zamora from Fulham and Djibril Cisse from Lazio. Both of those players would create highlights in this match, one good, and one bad.

QPR took charge of the match right from the first kick. They were keeping about 60% of the possession, and when Wolves did manage to get a hold of the ball, they couldn't do a thing with it. Cisse announced his presence in the 4th minute with a shot right at Wayne Hennessey in goal for Wolves. Zamora had the better chance just seconds later but saw the 'keeper knock it wide.

That was not all we'd hear from Bobby Zamora though. Earlier in the week, Cisse had scored on his debut for the club, and Zamora equaled the achievement against Wolves. In the 16th minute he took a back pass from Shaun Wright-Phillips at the top of the area and smacked the ball past Hennessey to make it 1-0 to QPR.

Wolves continued to struggle, to look like they couldn't do anything going forward, but then QPR gave them a get out of jail free card. In the 33rd minute Roger Johnson of Wolves went in on Cisse from behind on a nasty tackle. He was to receive a yellow for the play. However, as the referee rushed to the scene, Cisse inexplicably channeled Joey Barton and grabbed Johnson around the neck. He received the red card for the play. The QPR folks weren't happy, but it was the correct call. Still, despite being a man down QPR held their lead into the half time interval.

Wolves stormed out of the gate in the second half. They added Kevin Doyle as a 4th attacker, and the sub paid immediate dividends. In the 46th minute Doyle sent a cross to Matthew Jarvis, who slid the ball at an angle into the net at the far post to make it 1-1.

Doyle continued to be a dominant force for Wolves even after that. He got on the board himself in 71st minute to give Wolves the lead. He also took a short shot to the back post to make it 1-2 to the visitors.

QPR did formulate a response, but it came from one man. Adel Taarabt took Rangers on his shoulders in the closing minutes of the contest, putting several shots on target. The greatest chance came from distance in the 82nd minute. He sent in a blast that looked to certain to be headed for the roof of the net, but Hennessey got up and just barely put it over the bar. In the end it was too little, too late, and Wolves held on for the much needed three points.

CISSE SEES RED (EPL OFFICIAL)